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Fresh border clashes have broken out between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban forces, with both sides accusing each other of breaking a fragile ceasefire.<\/p>\n
Residents fled the Afghan city of Spin Boldak overnight, which lies along the 1,600-mile (2,574 km) border the two countries share.<\/p>\n
A medical source in the nearby city of Kandahar told BBC Pashto a local hospital had received the bodies of four people. It was unclear whether there were fatalities on the Pakistan side.<\/p>\n
Sporadic fighting has repeatedly broken out between the two in recent months, while Afghanistan’s Taliban government has also accused Pakistan of carrying out air strikes inside the country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Both sides have confirmed they exchanged fire overnight but each blamed the other for beginning the four hours of fighting. <\/p>\n
Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accused the Taliban of “unprovoked firing”.<\/p>\n
A statement continued: “An immediate, befitting & intense response has been given by our armed forces. Pakistan remains fully alert & committed to ensuring its territorial integrity & the safety our citizens.”<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a Taliban spokesperson said Pakistan had “once again initiated attacks” and said it was forced to respond.<\/p>\n
Footage from the area showed a large number of Afghans fleeing on foot and in vehicles, with people in neighbouring towns also leaving in fear of the renewed fighting spreading. <\/p>\n